How do I find out exactly what I can afford?

Finding out exactly what you can afford means getting pre-approved by a lender, who reviews your income, debt, credit, and savings together to give you a real maximum monthly payment rather than a rough online estimate. That number accounts for current interest rates and the specific property taxes and insurance costs tied to wherever you end up buying, both of which change the math significantly. A pre-approval letter also strengthens any offer you make once you start touring homes. Joel Boss can connect you with a lender who will walk through this with your actual numbers.